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Superman was 'The Man' for many years. He basically started the genre. He was marketed heavily in the 1930's and 1940's. Had his own radio show during that time, had his own newspaper strip, then got his first tv show in the 1950's. Kids wanted to be like Superman. They sold a ton of merchandise in that time, with his likeness on it. Batman was there too, but he certainly didn't garner the appeal that Superman did in that era.

Then that all changed. Was it 1966 and the Adam West interpretation. Was it Frank Miller? Was it the changing of society, into liking more brooding, conflicted characters? When did Batman lap Superman?

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I could be wrong as I was only 16 in 1986 but I think Frank Miller's Dark Knight, which came as Miller was peaking was the greatest thing in comics up until that time (IMO arguably ever). That arc really left an impression as to how dark Batman really was so that started the movement.

That was sort of a 'touchstone moment' but I think that the Batman movie in 1989 galvanized the character in American pop culture to non-collectors in a way nothing else did before or ever will again.

Leading up to the movie, Batman started gaining popularity in comics, first with Miller's Dark Knight and then artists like Norm Breyfogle and McFarlane and other creators really looking for ways to bring the Dark Knight to new heights building on Miller's vision. All of those artists seemed to draw in a very Milleresque style, trying to capitalize on Miller's dark and grandiose style.

But it was Tim Burton's movie that galvanized Batman in the eye of the general public and really made Batman a super star.

Tim Burton's Batman movie came out in 1989 and the buzz about the movie created a Batmania like I had never seen before and we will likely never see again. You could literally see it everywhere. Malls, on television, in comic stores.

There were debates about Keaton starring in the movie, and while that sounds like a normal thing today's pop culture driven digital world it was unheard of in 1989.

That year, 'Tec 27 overtook all other books for most valuable book in the OSPG and everything Batman related shot upward in value almost as fast as a hot book does today.

Around that period and moving forward Batman story arcs seemed to dominate from A Lonely Place Of Dying and the death of Robin, to all of the short story arcs that followed, to the new Batman titles and one offs branching out from his popularity.

There was so many creators that wanted a shot at working on Batman that it was a reader's dream.

And you had things like Batman: Year One, Year Two, etc that still have relevancy today.

It's hard to explain what Batmania was like back in 1989 unless you were there.

It was sort of like a comic book version of the Beatles coming to America and appearing on the Ed Sullivan show.

If anyone is interested in reading up on the history of that movie, this is a terrific read. The movie almost never happened.

I could be wrong as I was only 16 in 1986 but I think Frank Miller's Dark Knight, which came as Miller was peaking was the greatest thing in comics up until that time (IMO arguably ever). That arc really left an impression as to how dark Batman really was so that started the movement.

That was sort of a 'touchstone moment' but I think that the Batman movie in 1989 galvanized the character in American pop culture to non-collectors in a way nothing else did before or ever will again.

Leading up to the movie, Batman started gaining popularity in comics, first with Miller's Dark Knight and then artists like Norm Breyfogle and McFarlane and other creators really looking for ways to bring the Dark Knight to new heights building on Miller's vision. All of those artists seemed to draw in a very Milleresque style, trying to capitalize on Miller's dark and grandiose style.

But it was Tim Burton's movie that galvanized Batman in the eye of the general public and really made Batman a super star.

Tim Burton's Batman movie came out in 1989 and the buzz about the movie created a Batmania like I had never seen before and we will likely never see again. You could literally see it everywhere. Malls, on television, in comic stores.

There were debates about Keaton starring in the movie, and while that sounds like a normal thing today's pop culture driven digital world it was unheard of in 1989.

That year, 'Tec 27 overtook all other books for most valuable book in the OSPG and everything Batman related shot upward in value almost as fast as a hot book does today.

Around that period and moving forward Batman story arcs seemed to dominate from A Lonely Place Of Dying and the death of Robin, to all of the short story arcs that followed, to the new Batman titles and one offs branching out from his popularity.

There was so many creators that wanted a shot at working on Batman that it was a reader's dream.

It's hard to explain what Batmania was like back in 1989 unless you were there.

It was sort of like a comic book version of the Beatles coming to America and appearing on the Ed Sullivan show.

If anyone is interested in reading up on the history of that movie, this is a terrific read. The movie almost never happened.

People at work were changing their usernames to bat this and bat that. It was incredible. Non comic fans were universally all sucked into the hype. Everything was Batman. After the movie which I had great hopes for I felt ripped off. Goofy.

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People at work were changing their usernames to bat this and bat that. It was incredible. Non comic fans were universally all sucked into the hype. Everything was Batman. After the movie which I had great hopes for I felt ripped off. Goofy.

That movie made that summer the best summer ever.

I think it was awesome, I still think it's awesome and can watch it over and over even today.

It might be goofy and campy but it's an awesomely crafted piece of work as most of Burton's work is.